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| PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights PRESS RELEASE |
Ref: 140/2005
Date: 16 November 2005
Sourani and Sarraj meet the Danish Foreign Minister
Dr. Eyad El-Sarraj, the Director of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme, and Mr. Raji Sourani, PCHR’s Director, met a Danish delegation headed by Mr. Carsten Staur, Danish State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Rolf Holmboe, Head of the Royal Danish Representative Office to the Palestinian Authority.
Dr. Sarraj and Mr. Sourani briefed the visitors on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), especially following the implementation of the Disengagement Plan. He stressed that the occupation remains in its legal and physical form, and that the Gaza Strip has not experienced a qualitative change with regard to Israeli policies. On the contrary, the Strip is suffering from unprecedented economic and social strangulation.
Further, both stressed that the border crossings agreement reached yesterday reinforces the occupation and its de facto control over the Gaza Strip, as well as the travel and commerce of its population.
Sarraj and Sourani also stressed the Palestinian right to hold legislative elections to strengthen democracy and Palestinian political legitimacy. They affirmed the right of all Palestinian political factions to participate in these elections, without exception. Furthermore, both expressed their concern over the procedures, practical steps and detentions perpetrated by Israel to hinder the elections in the West Bank, and especially in Jerusalem.
In addition, Sourani and Sarraj expressed their concern over the security chaos and the infringements on the independence of the judiciary in the OPT.
Sarraj and Sourani informed the Danish Minister that the Gaza Strip would continue to suffer from economic and social strangulation, without freedom of internal movement between the Gaza Strip and West Bank, including Jerusalem, and external movement through Rafah International Crossing Point and Gaza International Airport.
At the end of the meeting, Sourani and Sarraj thanked Denmark for its support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self determination, independence and statehood.
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